You Can’t Keep Looking Back

If you want to move forward, you have to give up doing something. That something is looking back. Constantly looking back to the past will hinder you from moving forward.

From becoming a better husband. From being a better husband. And from being a better leader.

You have to stop looking to the past - Woman looking behind her

Photo by Roberto Nickson

It’s hard to look forward and away from the past. There are so many awesome things to look back upon.

You’ve accomplished so much. You’re proud of the time you took your wife to the perfect vacation spot and the time you spent there. Or you fondly recall the time you helped lead your team to win the sales competition in your department.

All good things! All things you should be proud of. But what happens when you constantly look back?

The Problem With Looking Back

I’ve extolled the values of looking back to the past. There’s good things that happen when you do. You are able to see you’re not a failure. You have been able to succeed. And, because of this, you have the confidence to move forward.

However, there are also problems with constantly looking back. These problems will stop your forward momentum. Or, worse, cause you to go in a direction you don’t desire.

Have you found yourself distracted while driving and your eyes are focused on an accident to your left? Do you remember what happened as your eyes shifted to the accident?

You unconsciously began to drift towards the accident. Your hands shifted ever so slightly and you titled the steering wheel in the direction of the accident. Then you caught yourself and made a hard correction.

Our focus is funny. We tend to go towards what we focus on. So, by focusing on the past, we’re taking our eyes off of our future. This is the problem with focusing on the past.

Our direction changes. We drift to places we don’t want to go. We lose sight of the end goal.

While there’s nothing wrong with revisiting the past, your visits have to hold a purpose. You may want to revisit your past so you can recall the time you had great success… And that success will encourage you to chase after your current dreams. Maybe you want to remember a lost loved one. Remember them… But also move on, move forward.

Focus On The Future

It’s hard to shift our focus from the past to the future. Especially if you’ve been focused on the past for an extended period of time.

It’s okay. I’ve been there. I still find myself there at times.

For me, it’s not business-based but the loss of my beloved dogs that I struggle to move on from. Losing Zane and Leviticus were some of the hardest times I’ve ever had. And my focus wants to drift back to the hard days with them.

Yet, if I want to move on, I have to shift my focus. From loss to joy. From my pain to the happiness I get to experience with new pets, like Lok.

You have to do the same thing. You can’t stay focused on past hurts, regrets, or even successes. Your focus has to shift to what is going on right now in your life and what you desire for your future.

Shift your eyes from the past. Focus on the present and the future. Move consciously in the direction you must go.

Question: What are you focusing on? The past or the future? How can you shift your focus so it is on the right thing? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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